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Autumn Monarch

October 20, 2013 by 4 Comments
Autumn Monarch

Autumn Monarch © 2013 Bo Mackison

“What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the Master calls the butterfly.” ~ Richard Bach

Endings are beginnings. Maybe disguised, frequently unwanted, a few are eagerly awaited, but every moment is a moment of change.

I watch the days shortening, cloudy skies are becoming routine. A flash of the sun, even a ten minute as it slips from gray cloud cover, is eagerly greeted, and appreciated. Perhaps I appreciate these glimpses, I am more grateful for the sunlight, when it is miserly doled out a minute here, a minute there.

I wonder? Do I take Arizona’s blue bowl skies, the brightly lit desert environment as the precious gift it is when I am in Arizona? I do wake every morning before sunrise, grab a coffee, and go outside to wait for the emerging sun as it emerges above the Santa Rita Mountains.

Perhaps it’s time to make travel plans to visit my casita in Arizona… Missing the desert so much!

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About Bo Mackison

I'm a photographer, book-artist, traveler, naturalist, and creator of the Contemplative Creatives Journey, An Online Workshop and Community and Desert Wisdom Cards and Workshops. Though often not well known, I find the desert a welcoming place - a healing space. Its mysteries and gifts transformed me several years ago. Since that first encounter, I return again and again to fill my well in what most people think of as a desolate region. I'd love to share my desert discoveries and wisdom with you. Please subscribe to receive my five part mini email course The Gifts of the Desert. It's my gift to you.

Comments

  1. Robin says
    October 20, 2013 at 4:45 pm

    Beautiful Monarch. I didn’t see many Monarchs this year, and quite a few others in different places have said the same. Seeing the one or two I did see felt like a gift.

    This will sounds odd but up until we had the week of rain with a tropical system, I was looking forward to some cloudy days. It’s sunny a lot here, and I’m not used to it.

    Given how beautiful your images are, I suspect you don’t take anything for granted, Bo. 🙂

    Reply
    • Bo Mackison says
      October 20, 2013 at 4:56 pm

      I have seen Monarchs all summer. I’ve read of many saying they are seeing fewer monarchs, and I worry about their decreasing numbers, even if Wisconsin seems to have a healthy population. We have huge areas of milkweed, and surely that has been a factor.

      Thanks for your comment – I do try to be appreciative of what I see, but imperfectly, of course…

      Reply
  2. Montucky says
    October 21, 2013 at 9:10 pm

    Gorgeous photo of the Monarch! I also miss Arizona. I will miss it even more in a couple more months!

    Reply
  3. Gandalf says
    October 22, 2013 at 11:30 am

    Monarchs are pretty amazing. Hope they survive.

    Reply

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